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by David Pescovitz, Devin Fidler, Jean Hagan, Dylan Hendricks Illustrations by Jacob Glaser

Stories From the Future

drawing information from myriad sources, it will be the backbone of a new kind of human-machine interface: a search engine for reality itself.

But it’s a long road ahead. Working with one of our longstanding clients in the automotive in-dustry, Institute for the Future developed an out-side-in, ten-year forecast on the future of auton-omous vehicles. The aim was to provoke insights about possible consumer use-cases for fully auton-omous vehicles looking ten years out. We present-ed the forecast in the form of short comics, “Sto-ries from the Future,” that are driven by collisions at the intersection of technology and culture.

In the next decade, autonomous vehicles will evolve to become the ultimate mobile computer. These intelligent and connected robots will be no-madic nodes on the Internet of Things, efficiently shuttling atoms around our built environment not unlike packets on the Internet of bits. Sometimes we will ride around inside these mobile computers; just as frequently, they will bring us what we need wherever we are. As the autonomous vehicles tra-verse our concrete networks, they will collect and share data about the world at very high resolution. This real-time data will help us index our physical world with a greater resolution than ever possible. As that database becomes more comprehensive,

The Coming Era of Autonomous Vehicles

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

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Stories From the Future

Matter Routing: The Autonomous Vehicle as a Node on the Internet of Things

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org

127

Mobile Family Room: The Journey is the Destination

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org

128

Stories From the Future

The Lone Commuter: Rest, Work, Relaxation, Relief

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

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© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org

129

A Collaborative Commute: Workplace on Wheels

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

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130

Stories From the Future

Gameful Driving: Vehicle as Personal Recreation Space

as aysa pulls up at home, she’s notified that

she hit a new high score. the trip was a success

parents’

In Intimacy

spell might be broken. You might say the wrong thing. You might do the wrong thing. And worse, what if this person isn’t truly interested—what if this is a harmless glance, and you’re misreading the signal? Do you really want to be That Person? Of course you don’t.

Enter N2U. With N2U, you can instantly assess someone’s interest. Not sure if she’s staring at your face, or that mustard stain on your shirt? Now you know. Worried that she’s just being polite? Now you know. And if she’s N2U? You’ll be happy to find out for sure.

But N2U doesn’t end there. If you keep N2U going for the duration of your relationship, the system will learn your habits, your tics, your needs and desires, what turns you on, and what sets you off. And as N2U learns and adapts to your relation-ship, it can tell you and your partner where you’re going wrong. Even bet-ter, N2U can be extended to include other partners: with our Premium subscription plan, there is no limit to the number of people you can add to your N2U group!

Now you have no excuse for not knowing that your words hurt some-one: with our revolutionary heads-up display and branded N2U smart-suits, you’ll know instantly what kind of impact your words have. If you add haptic responses to your N2U sub-scription, you’ll get a hug or a gut-punch with each remark you make. Wonder if she’s feeling the frisson of unresolved sexual tension that you are? Now you’ll know!

We’re not pretending that rela-tionships are easy. We know they’re work. But we can make them easier. We can help you start the tough con-versation. And we can help you feel the love. With N2U, you’ll be more present, more vital, and more aware within your own relationship.

So. Are you into it?

She’s just not that into you.

How often have you heard those words? We’ve all heard them at one time or another. And we’ve all said them to someone else in our lives.

It’s not easy, is it? Of course it’s not. It’s not easy for any of us. But what if there were a better way?

N2U is a revolutionary technolo-gy that allows us to help you discov-er who is available, and who isn’t, and how interested they really are. N2U takes basic metrics available across a variety of well-known and proven platforms, including but not limited to:

• Pupil dilation• Galvanic skin response• Alpha/beta sine wave changes• Skin temperature• Siccadic eye movement• Habitual data usage• Biological data profiles• Available social media avatars• Networked possessions• Networked appliances

With data gleaned from all theseavailable sources, it’s possible for us divine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: how one person feels about another. How many times have you been in this situation?

You spot an attractive person across a crowded room. Your eyes meet. You both smile. But neither of you can move. If you move, the

by Madeline Ashby

N2UDivine the secrets to the ultimate mystery: Do they like you?

10_SECT ARTICLE_Intimacy_N2U_js_092916.indd 120 10/6/16 2:35 PM

120

© 2017 Institute for the Future. All rights reserved. SR-1895A | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 INTL www.iftf.org